City Beautiful

July 9

What a marvelous day! We started the day with a beautiful drive up the Mississippi River towards Nauvoo. Bright blue sky, beautiful green country side, high muddy waters next to the road. Then finally, a break in the trees and a bend in the river. There it was - the temple on the hill - off in the distance. What a sight it must have been to the saints in the mid-1840s after weeks on a rolling ship to come up the river and come around that bend. I'm sure it made it all worth it.

We started out with a session in the Nauvoo temple. What a beautiful temple. We were allowed to see the assembly room. It looks so much like the paintings and drawings of the original. What a great experience. The murals in the rooms are breathtaking. After that, we were able to take the kids to do baptisms for the dead while Mom walked around Nauvoo. The youth group that was there at the same time Richard and Rachel were there, was from Kearney, Missouri, which is where we lived when Kim was born. Another amazing "coincidence."

During the afternoon we were able to see some of Nauvoo and enjoy the spirit there. Mom even ran into someone she went to high school with.

In the evening we were able to see the Nauvoo pageant. What a great production that tells a history of Nauvoo along with a story line that bears strong testimony of Jesus Christ. Words cannot convey the emotions. And at the end to have the temple light up atop that bluff was just incredible.

All in all - a wonderful day!!!!